Policy Context

Food security is defined by not just by the availability of food, but by the consistent financial, physical and social access to nutritious, safe and appropriate dietary options.¹ Running out of food and being unable to afford more is a critical measure of insecurity, the causes of which are systemic, with poverty being a major determinant.¹ Food insecurity affected nearly 3.5 million Australian households according to Foodbank in 2025,² and affected an estimated 17% of children in WA in 2023.³ Some populations are more vulnerable to food insecurity, including low-income earners, people who are socially or geographically isolated, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people experiencing homelessness.⁴

The primary catalyst for food insecurity is the rising cost of living - particularly of food, energy and housing, and driven by factors such as natural disasters and unemployment.⁵ Food insecurity often leads to poor health outcomes as families are forced to compromise on food quality – reducing purchases of fresh produce for more energy-dense, low-nutrient alternatives, putting these households at a greater risk for chronic health conditions.²,⁴ For children, the negative short- and long-term effects are even more significant, impacting not only physical growth and development but also academic engagement, social functioning, and causing emotional distress.⁴